The World of Second Chances

The Killer Bride- Tatiana dela Torre

September 11, 2019

That’s Entertainment

Disclaimer: Don’t take me seriously, I am just a fan. LOL!

Oh, wait—- Tatiana dela Torre got pregnant at 17 and the suspected father was Javier dela Cuesta? And now, Tatiana is one of the suspects for Javier’s death and Camila’s tragedy….hmmmm. I don’t think Tati can do that.

Allow me to refresh my memory that somewhere along the first few episodes, Luna mentioned about having a cousin and the father was her late uncle. While the possibility of narcissistic Tati giving up her baby to lover Javier to avoid the scandal and maybe possible wrath of Don Jacobo, then the more that she would not wish any harm done on Javier! The one who killed Javier could not be Tati or any of her lovers because it does not sound logical when her baby is under the care of the dela Cuestas. Besides, Tati seems to move on easily after a failed relationship. Remember her divorce from husband number 3 before she went back to Las Espadas when the news about the Camila wannabe broke out. Ariella Arida is a nice sight to watch in this teleserye but no, I’m sorry, she is not involved in Javier’s death.

Update:

So, Sebastian dela Cuesta is not Tati and Javier’s child. Episode 26 shows a dead Justino and he is revealed to be the one responsible for Tati’s rape two decades ago. The plot thickens……
I Love You Since 1892 Review

September 3, 2019

Life & Love

Note: May contain spoilers.

Here is my review for Binibining Mia’s “I Love You Since 1892.” If you are looking for a Noli Me Tangere or El Filibusterismo in this book, then this book is not for you. If you are looking for realistic geographical accuracy, then this book is not for you. If you intend to learn about our history, then this book is not for you.

The story starts interestingly with the main character (Carmela Isabella) finding herself back in 1892 and meeting her future love, Juanito Alfonso. The problem is, the two are from different era: 2016 and 1892. There seems to be a touch of Christopher Reeve’s “Somewhere in Time” here except that the love story’s backdrop is the impending rebellion against the Castillian conquistadores. The middle part of the book is dragging and forced as the author probably wants more Carmela and Juanito romantic moments. The latter part is okay starting from the revelation about Olivia’s real nature. The disappointing part is Carmelita’s return and the twist about what Juanito dislikes in her.

The loophole in the story is the Carmelita to Carmela to Carmelita transition itself. Carmelita from 2016’s mission is to save Juanito’s life that is abruptly ended in 1892 by an unknown assailant. There is no logical explanation why Juanito has to live and why Carmelita has to die and her death is even suggested by a supposed divine creature. If the original flow is a reunion between Carmelita and Juanito, you’ll be disappointed because the story is made for Carmela and Juanito. And if we will follow this logic about two lovers from two different times, then the real color of the story portrays disobedience, manipulation, jealousy, love quadrangle (Helena-Carmelita-Carmela-Alfonso and Carmelita-Carmela-Leandro-Alfonso).

I tend to assume that Binibining Mia wants to have a hopeful ending, with the descendants of the Monteclaro and Alfonso clan finally ending up with each other. I assume that she is an amateur author and for a newcomer, she is above average and has big potential to make it big someday.

Would I recommend her book? If you just want to have a good time and you are young at heart, then this book is right for you. 🙂

PS: If you find this article worth sharing, kindly hit the re-blog or Facebook button. Let us continue to support our local authors. Thank you!
The Killer Bride- Who Are You, Emma Bonaobra?

August 30, 2019

That’s Entertainment
Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN.

Now that it is revealed that Camila dela Torre is still alive, we now focus on the very cunning Emma Bonaobra.

I am actually torn between believing that she is Vida dela Cuesta (Camila and Vito’s daughter who is supposed to be one of the casualties of the arson at the jailhouse where Camila was incarcerated) versus believing that she is just one hell of a good con woman.

A. Emma Bonaobra is Vida dela Cuesta

Who would have much loyalty to a vengeful person (Camila) other than the one who is also the direct recipient of such injustice (Vida)? Who would have trusted a stranger (Emma) and ask her to carry on a complicated task if she isn’t her daughter? Mother and daughter have an axe to grind against their family. The only question is, who helped them get out of prison to start a new life elsewhere? Sharon and her visitor’s glances on the scene when Vito visited Camila is not probably meaningless. I don’t believe that Sharon’s visitor is her husband; otherwise, she could have given earlier the custody of her infant and prevented her infant’s untimely death. That man is probably someone’s errand boy and person is probably influential and rich. If Sharon was a drug pusher, I guess that it was a drug lord who helped her out of jail by asking someone to burn the jailhouse and let her escape. At least we have suspect number 2 about the mastermind in the arson. Suspect number 1 is Juan Felipe, Camila’s uncle.

Update: Sharon’s visitor is Fabio, her brother. He works for a casino money lending syndicate, not a drug lord. And no, the mafia has nothing to do with the burning of the jailhouse.

B. Emma Bonaobra is Ms. X

We don’t know if she really is Emma Bonaobra or it’s a case of identity theft. Imagine stealing someone’s name and pretending to be possesed by a vengeful spirit? That Emma Bonaobra could be the female version of Frank Abagnale Jr! Luciano and Elias are right after all! She is a fake and she’s a damn good con woman! I can’t see any other motive why Emma collaborates with Camila other than getting money from it.

Memories, be it a good memory or a bad one, will affect our judgment if we won’t practice critical thinking. I think this is one of the hidden message of The Killer Bride, that is, to never trust an event if it is not scientifically or even objectively analysed. Tsoknut’s bonfire scene with her friends gives us a picture of a person who believes another person’s story (Emma’s) without verifying the truth about it. Whatever Emma says, she believes because Emma said so. Tsoknut believes in the killer bride story so she is easy to manipulate. Manay Ichu is easy to manipulate, too because she’s still living in Camila’s memories. Vito is easy to manipulate because he still loves Camila. Dona Guada is easy to manipulate because of her past guilt. Elias is the most objective of the characters because he does not believe the ghost story but his heart will most likely betray him as he has this particular fondness of Emma.
The Killer Bride-Juan Felipe

August 28, 2019

That’s Entertainment
Note: Don’t take me seriously. I am just a fan. Lol!

Long before the love story story of Vito dela Cuesta and Camila dela Torre happened, the warring families of equal wealth and connection were disgusted with each other’s presence. Belinda dela Torre’s rape and murder by one of dela Cuesta’s sons put an end to a possible reconciliation between the two powerful clans. The story after her death is never discussed and no known retaliation from the dela Torreses seems to occur.

If we see a young Belinda, perhaps in her twenties, then we could assume that Jacobo was in his late twenties when her tragedy happened. Therefore, the timeline from her tragedy up to Vito and Camila’s love story is a 50-year animosity between the two families.

Vito and Camila’s love story is likened to that of Romeo and Juliet; except that the latter’s life and death is more complicated. There are questions that keep the viewers asking like:
1. What was Renato dela Torre’s life when he joined the rebel group?
2. Who set fire on the rebel groups in San Lucas de Oro?
3. Who framed up Camila dela Torre?
4. Who was the man with a pair of horseshoe tattoo?
5. Who killed Camila dela Torre?
6. What happened to baby Vida dela Cuesta?
Renato dela Cuesta was the firstborn of Don Jacobo and Dona Guada. Being his father’s favorite, he was expected to inherit his father’s businesses and continue the legacy of the dela Torre clan. (Take note that between the two families, the dela Torres seem to be the more forgiving one as compared with the dela Cuestas. Proof of this is the absence of retaliation when Belinda was raped and killed by a dela Cuesta.) Renato, for some undivulged reasons yet, decided to join the rebels at the San Lucas De Oro, met a girl there and started a family. Don Jacobo, out of his great frustration, disowned Renato and let him live his life at the mountains. His absence and elimination from the line up of heirs put an advantage to his power-hungry brother, Luciano dela Torre. But Renato’s life was cut short when somebody burned the village where the rebels lived.

Assuming that Renato joined the rebels at age 25 and died at age 30, then Camila would have been 5 years old when her grandparents took her in. Luciano is probably 5 years younger and that made him 25 years old in 1999, then followed by Juan Felipe at age 20. The age gap between Tatiana and Camila is only 3 years as compared to the supposed 12 years age gap between Juan Felipe and Tatiana so it’s possible that Tatiana’s disgust over her niece is like a sibling rivalry than political or economical.

Questions 3-6 will focus on the possible mastermind.

At this point, I do not believe that Luciano dela Torre had something to do with Renato’s death, Camila’s frame up and Camila’s death. I intend to put a finger to goody two shoes uncle Juan Felipe.

Juan Felipe, the 3rd son, seems to have that middle child syndrome. An achiever at an early age, he seems to be what every parent should be proud of in a child. But he could also be the least favorite child that is why he keeps on trying to be the best. We know Luciano is not as sharp as Renato or Juan Felipe and his only saving grace is his guts. Juan Felipe is a classic example of silent water runs deep. His actions are calculated; his stares are even colder than that of Luciano. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who instructed to raid the rebels and burn the village for the purpose of eliminating Renato. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who brought young Camila to the dela Torre mansion to divert suspicion about his involvement.

With Renato down, his eyes are now fixated on eliminating Luciano but somehow, he realized that Luciano’s agressiveness could work for him. What he failed to anticipate was the growing Camila had her father’s intellect and it would only be a matter of time before she becomes the successor of their family business.

His disapproval of the Vito-Camila love affair was not out of concern but out of creating a picture of a hard-headed granddaughter that Don Jacobo loved above all his remaining children. My suspicion is that, it was Juan Felipe who collaborated with Javier dela Cuesta in trying to liquidate Camila. Someone would ask, why would a guy as sweet as Javier lay a finger on the woman who is about to get married to his only brother Vito? I think that a typical dela Cuesta has this temper when it involves the person they love. Remember the church compound scene when Vito punched the man in the stomach because he said something bad about Camila? Yes, Javier was there to kill Camila but Juan Felipe was wise enough to ask one of his men to frame up Camila.

Why the horseshoe tattoo? I think it has something to do with a gang and it’s not only one man in Las Espadas who have it. When Alice tried to unbutton Juan Felipe’s shirt for a photoshoot, the latter was pissed off to Alice’s dismay. Is he hiding something beneath those shirt?

What I love about this show is having two underrated actors “manipulate” the viewers. Viewers hate them and it’s a sign that they are effective. Cris Villanueva used to live in Kristina Paner’s shadow because of their loveteam. In his late 20’s, his on-again off-again relationship with Criselda Volks was more talked about than his talent. But now, in his 40’s, Cris managed to find his niche and never have I admired him as an actor than now. He was good in “Halik” and he keeps getting better in “Killer Bride.”

I don’t have much memory of James Blanco except that soap commercial ages ago. In reality, these two dela Torre brothers have a 10 year-age gap.
Ang Nagbabagong Panahon

July 30, 2019

Life & Love
List of issues that we have accepted through time:
1. Building a hedge on our relationship- noong araw, kapag bantay-sarado ka sa boyfriend or asawa mo, ang tawag sa iyo “walang-tiwala.” Pero ngayon, pino-promote na to ngayon para daw maiwasan ang tukso.
2. Okay lang magalit/mainis/sumpungin- noong bata ako, kapag nagalit ako, andyan na yung amba ng palo o pagsasabihan ka na “masama ang magalit” o ipaparamdam sa iyo na napakasama mong tao dahil throwing tantrums ka. Na sa palagay ko kaya ang ibang tao ay passive-aggresive ay dahil sa pagpapalaki din ng magulang. Ngayon, sa mommy group na kasama ako at kapag may nagra-rant, “valid ang feelings mo, okay lang magalit” ang mababasa ko na ibig sabihin ay somebody is acknowledging your bad day.
3. Growing up in the 80’s, bawal akong mag-rant. Bawal mag-complain. Sumunod muna bago magsalita. Bawal magsabi ng unhappiness dahil nakakawala daw ng grasya. Ngayon, nawiwindang ako dahil yung ibang tao, kada kibot, post ng rant. Kada di magustuhan, social media.
4. Related to sa number 3- noong araw, you treat your issues privately. Naghiwalay kayong mag-asawa? Kokonti ang nakakaalam. Nagkagalit kayong magkapatid? It’s between the two of you lang. Pero ngayon, pati inis mo sa kapitbahay mo ay pwede mo ng i-social media at supportive pa ang nasa friends’ list mo. Hehe.
5. Okay lang noon na nasa bahay ang babae habang ang lalaki ay nagtatrabaho para sa pamilya. Pansin ko, baka kaya defensive ang ibang stay-at-home-mom and they are trying to justify their choice ay dahil sa mga mapanghusgang tao na nagtatanong bakit sila hindi nagtratrabaho. Ano namang paki natin sa kanila, di ba? Unless pinapakain natin sila.
6. Baligtarin natin, noong araw, nakakahiya kapag ang babae ang kumikita habang ang lalaki ay nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga bata. Nasa agreement yan ng mag-asawa basta hindi natatapakan ang ego ng lalaki. Madaming successful marriages ngayon na ang lalaki ang nasa bahay habang si misis ang naghahanap-buhay.
7. Nakakahiyang maging mahirap noong araw. Kaya nga ang mga artista ang ginagamit na pakulo ay “convent-bred, schooled in an all-girls exclusive school, anak ni ganito at ganoon.” Pero bandang late 90’s hanggang ngayon na nauso ang mga contest kung saan naghahanap ng sympathy vote ang mga contestant, nagbago ang tingin natin sa mahihirap. Na ang mahihirap ay okay lang maging mahirap basta nagsisikap.
8. Sexy lang ang may karapatang mag-swimsuit noon. Kaya nga iilan lang ang big sizes na swimsuit noon. Ngayon, swimsuits come in all shapes and sizes.
9. Pag kumain ka ng tanim mo o ng itlog mula sa alaga mong manok, napaka-jologs mo ng tao. Pero ngayon, organic naman ang pino-promote dahil mas healthy.
10. Kokonti ang private vehicles noong araw. Kapag may kotse ka, big time ka na. Ngayon, salamat sa influx of second hand vehicles. Salamat sa affordable car loans. Salamat sa affordable cars like compact cars na mas mura kesa sa ibang modelo. Kaya ngayon, kahit middle-class ay meron ng sasakyan (wala nga lang mapagparkingan).
Anxiety

July 23, 2019

Health & Beauty

Waking up to another day

Requires a lot of effort to juggle everything

From end to end

The day has not yet started

Yet fatigue is setting in

Because the most tiring part of me

Is my brain

Some people are wired to keep their focus

And let another person worry for their troubles

I personally see whatever I have to see

Because what I have are the most precious

I used to be adventurous

The type who would bungee-jump

When mother was alive and father was not so old

I would dare risk my life

Mama left me such enormous responsibility

To glue the family together

I started having anxiety

For a task so heavy

But no task is heavier

Than to be constantly worried about your loved ones

Are they eating? Are they making good?

Are they surviving? Do they have food?

I work from five to 10 and barely sleep

My mind is fixated on what we need

Anxiety attack, they will laugh at it

Being over-concerned is something that I must quit
The Privacy of an Icon

June 24, 2019

That’s Entertainment

Mr. Eddie Garcia passed away last Thursday, June 21, leaving a permanent void in showbiz. I grew up watching his villain roles in Sampaguita Pictures when RPN9 made a re-run of their classic films. My grandmother was just a few years younger than him.

Through the years, very little was known about his private life except some bits of details like losing his son to a motorcycle accident and having a girlfriend named “Lilibeth.” It was either the showbiz reporters had so much respect for this icon to be asking about the juicy details of his private life or the public did not care because he was not of our generation. It could be both.

It was only in my adult life when I truly appreciated this genius of an actor. His versatility could never be equalled; he played a soldier, a gay, a villain, a lover, a father and a whole lot more. Through his seven decades in showbiz, he had seen the rise and fall and maybe the rise again of our Philippine cinema. And he was also there when Pinoy action films was at its peak, after all, he was Boyong Manalac in the movies!

My favorite movies of him are the ones with Gloria Diaz. They had such a strong on-screen chemistry and they both looked good together! Off-screen, I only learned that long-time girlfriend Lilibeth was none other than Mr. Mikee Romero’s mother! Netizens were wondering about the surviving biological children and were at lost if there was really a Lisa Ortega because in the picture that Mr. Romero posted on Facebook, there was a surviving son named Erwin Garcia.

Eddie Garcia’s career and some pieces of his personal life like his famous quote about being a “one man woman” could be written on a book as not every person is as interesting and as inspiring as him. But the consideration is, if Mr. Garcia was mum about his personal details when he was alive, he wouldn’t be happy to share about it now that he couldn’t object.